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From: connie mack <cmack5313@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 5:00 PM
To: Tyshar Turner <tturner@chulavistaca.gov>
Subject: Comment: Opposition to use of License Plate Reading Technology in Chula Vista
January 5, 2021
Mayor Salas and Chula Vista City Council.
I have been proud of the stands on many issues in Chula Vista, but now… I am
disappointed to find that our “WelcomingCity”is sharing surveillance data with outside
agencies. Sharing data with DHS/ICE/CBP is contrary to our values, violates the spirit of
state law SB54, and undercuts our designation as the "first certified welcoming city" in t
he country and the New American Economy coalition ranking Chula Vista as the
second-best city in the country for immigrants behind Chicago. I was at the ceremony
when this award was presented last year… and this license plate reading
technology does not fall in line with the values that I thought we have
exhibited as a city.
Also, as a resident of Chula Vista, I do not like the idea of law enforcement
in my city being able to access a wide spectrum of information available
through this technology, on me or anyone else, just by entering a license
plate number. This is a violation of our civil liberties, across the board, at
every level of our society.
I understand that Chula Vista owns 4 of these devices… and only two have
been in use. There are cities of our size that have dozens (or more? ) in
use daily. One might wonder why I think it is such a big deal…and it should
be halted, when we have such a small number of them.
But my feeling is that this is the perfect time to take a stand and make the
decision not to go forward with this technology. The more of them we have,
the more difficult it will be to stop using them…when there are complaints
and it becomes clear that people’s rights to privacy are being trampled on. If we
have hundreds… then people will point to the wasted money if there are complaints
about their use.
I also think that there should be more transparency so that our citizens can
have oversight of surveillance programs that target immigrants, people of
color, political activists, LGBTQ and other marginalized members of our
community who are easily harmed. These are people who are vulnerable to
information gathered with this technology being used to their detriment…
not for their protection.
Finally, I believe that there should be a series of public forums that will
allow our citizens to learn about this CVPD ALPR technology and to hear
the details about the sharing of our data.
Warning:
External
Email
It seems that this pandemic has become an excuse for the City Council to
lock citizens out of any comments and input… except for email. You can
claim that this allows people to voice their opinions… but they are never read, nor
referred to at a City Council Meeting (except to announce how many email messages
there were and to be told that we can go and look for them. ) What sense does it make,
when we cannot come to City Council meetings in person, to deprive us of the ability to
represent ourselves up at a meeting… with our voices and your seeing our faces??
Being deprived of that is a far cry from the community , personal input and sharing of
opinions that we are accustomed to and deserve as citizens of the City of Chula Vista.
Connie Mack
Chula Vista Resident (more than 50 years)
Retired CV Elementary Teacher
Active Community member and social justice activist